If you’ve not plonked down the deposit for that electric vehicle (EV) you’re eyeing, you might want to hold on to it. In an exclusive chat with Sin Chew Jit Poh, Malaysian Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation, Chang Lih Kang, said that the government is exploring the idea of incentives for hydrogen cars (FCEVs).
The minister said these incentives will include exemptions from import, excise, and road taxes, much like what we see for electric vehicles. Plus, buyers might get direct subsidies, similar to those in China for battery electric vehicles. This move is part of the government’s subsidy rationalisation plan (read: no more cheap fuel).
The grand vision here is detailed in the Hydrogen Economy and Technology Roadmap (HETR), which kicked off on October 5, 2023. The aim is to make Malaysia a key player in the global green hydrogen market, projected to hit USD189.19 billion by 2050. They’re banking on this policy to pump RM49 billion to RM61 billion into our GDP by 2030 and create over 45,000 jobs.
Sarawak is leading the charge with multi-fuel stations that cater to petrol, diesel, electric, and hydrogen vehicles. These stations in Kuching and Mukah, operated by Petros, are part of a plan for six such facilities in total. Hydrogen production isn’t cheap though – about USD6 per kilogram. So, filling up a Toyota Mirai’s 5.65-kg tank costs around RM159.08, giving it an 800-km range.
As it stands, two fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) have been sighted in Malaysia: the Toyota Mirai and the Hyundai Nexo. The Mirai was on display at Toyota’s booth at Malaysia Autoshow 2024. Over in China, at last year’s Shanghai Motorshow, GAC-Toyota’s booth featured the Mirai, proving that FCEVs still have a niche following even in the EV capital of the world.
The government has rolled out several clean energy incentives, like the Solar for Rakyat Incentive Scheme (SoLaRis) and measures under the HETR. SoLaRis offers up to RM4,000 for solar energy installations, while the HETR offers pioneer status and investment tax allowances for hydrogen and fuel cell-related tech from 2024 to 2030. The goal is to shrink our carbon footprint and drive sustainable energy solutions.
So, will hydrogen cars take off here? It’s a big leap, and while the plans sound promising (like the FCEV incentives), the proof will be in the execution. Let’s wait and see if these ambitious plans can navigate the real-world challenges.
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